When I decided to eat all the edible parts of the cow, I really didn’t think it would be that hard.
I am a big eater and like almost everything. I can count on one hand the foods I dislike. I assumed with the cow eating there would be parts that sounded gross and things I would not love. I had no idea there would be parts that I honestly couldn’t swallow. That is, until I tried chinchulines.
The day started well enough. We were in a part of town called La Boca, the birthplace of tango. To escape the hordes of tourists, restaurant owners shoving menus in our faces and non-stop music from the street, we ducked into a little restaurant/parilla.
Charming is the only way to describe it. Brightly painted walls, an attentive, quirky waiter, and big glasses of red wine.
We were the only people in the restaurant which meant fabulous service. The waiter showed us each bottle of wine, explained the cuts of meat, and told us about different parts of Argentina.
You could even go in the back and check out the meat on the BBQ.
When I asked the waiter what chinchulines were, he vaguely pointed to his stomach region and then assured me they were really good. So I ordered them. I mean, they are on the menu! How bad can they be if people actually order them?
And once I tasted chinchulines, I knew it would be harder than I thought. The only way these things can be on a menu is because they have them left over and assume dumb tourists who don’t speak Spanish will order them because they don’t know better. No one, and I mean NO ONE can actually like these things. They are stringy and chewy on the outside, squishy and repulsive on the inside.
Before we left for Argentina, my friends Nancy and Roberta both suggested I eat all the Kosher parts of the cow (the front half). I so wished I had listened to them. It is going to take a lot of dulce de leche to get me to forget chinchulines.
This is fantastic. You are such a neat gal, thank you for sharing this. i look forward to your next installment =}
Be safe,
JM
Oh Sheryl- you are so brave! Way to go girl. And I love the blog!
So, you say you’re eating an entire *cow*, which is female… was that intentional so you wouldn’t have to eat the Argentine equivalent of Rocky Mountain Oysters? 🙂
Yes, the term cow is just for generic purposes. I will be eating Rocky Mountain oysters as soon as I figure out the names for them in Spanish.
Allow me to assist you with your quest; they’re called “criadillas.” You’re a braver woman than I am!
Criadillas are for sure not my favorite. But, I figure everything else will be easy after getting those down.
That’s totally what you get for trying to be adventurous! Haha!
At least you were able to finish the glass of wine so that didn’t go to waste.
And BTW, did you guys get stylish new haircuts in Argentina? You both look great!
We did both just get Buenos Aires haircuts. While I was eating the intestines I was thinking. “This is gross, but at least my hair looks good.” 🙂
Love it! I have to say that Jeff gets the award for the play by play commentary about eating the small intestines. I say you go for brains soon.
Your blog is fantastic! You need your own reality tv show…seriously. (You know, it kinda makes sense that intestines taste like shit.)
Eagerly awaiting each new Blog. Hold the Chinchulines. Tonight we had delicious filet mignon. Enjoy each day!
R & G
So I want to know if they at least gave you a t-shirt….something along the effect of I heart chinchulines….and then you can have the waiter sign it…the squishy, gooey squirt out part…hmmmm, all I can say is thank you for chewing with your mouth closed…did you realize that your chinchulines now have chinchulines in them??
Hahahah! You should have pulled a Seinfeld….put the intestines in your napkin, then in your pocket. The many dogs in your ‘hood would love you!!!
Great blog and great to see you. We are well and wish you both happy holidays! Karin
That is so gross! I think I know what the gooey stuff was. Yuck!